A new TV series about Prince Charles is set to air in the UK. ITV has commissioned programmes focusing on his life as Duke of Cornwall.
The shows are being made to mark Charles’ 50th year as a working Duke of Cornwall. The title traditionally passes to the eldest son of a monarch on their accession and Charles took on the role on the day his mother became Queen. However his active involvement in the Duchy, which provides an income of around £20 million every year for the prince, began half a century ago.
Programme makers have followed him and his work at the duchy for the past year and the two hour long shows that have come from that include exclusive interviews with Prince Charles. Viewers will also see him as he takes on the day to day work involved in running the duchy which covers more than 130, 000 acres of land and an estate including farms and industrial estates as well as high profile areas like the model village of Poundbury in Dorset.
Charles’ role as Duke of Cornwall and custodian of the estate will be showcased in the programmes while his focus on the environment and local communities will also come under the spotlight.
Bill Lyons, Executive Producer of the programmes, said ‘’ “It’s rare to have access to an untold story but that’s exactly what we discovered in the Duchy of Cornwall. These films will reveal just how much HRH The Prince of Wales has invested – personally and emotionally – into what has been his lifetime’s endeavour.”
The programmes have been made for ITV by BBC Studios and have the working title of ‘Inside The Duchy’.
The Duchy of Cornwall was first established as an estate by Edward III in order to provide an income for the heir to the throne. It automatically passes to the eldest surviving son of a monarch on their accession. Prince Charles is the longest serving Duke of Cornwall in history.
